<h1>European government pledges reliable ties, supports Asian partner's right to self-defence, backs lawful sanctions, urges energy security</h1> A European government reaffirmed firm support for an Asian partner's right to defend against terrorism and pledged to deepen bilateral ties based on reliability and predictability; it endorsed Western sanctions on a third state as lawful measures to undermine that state's financial ability to wage war while stressing the need to avoid energy supply bottlenecks. The government acknowledged differences with the partner over the Ukraine conflict but emphasized open dialogue, backed swift conclusion of a prospective regional free-trade agreement, and described a major East Asian power as both partner and competitor.